"Use this... We'll communicate through these," she handed Logan flesh-colored earbuds.
Scarlett readied the guns as Logan donned the earbuds, discreetly concealing them beneath her coat.
"Ma'am, are you certain about going down alone?" Logan voiced his concerns. A sense of worry could be heard in his tone.
"Yes! Why do you ask?" Scarlett responded, a hint of confidence in her voice.
"Allow me to handle them," he insisted, his worry growing.
"No! They might kill you. As for me, I believe they won't kill me right away," she reassured him with a smile, trying to ease his worries.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because these people are the Withers. They only aim to kidnap me, not kill me," she explained, a smile lingering on her lips as she observed Logan's shocked expression.
"Ma'am... Please be cautious. If anything happens to you, Master Xander will kill me," Logan said. After following Scarlett for a few months, he understood her personality and other unique traits quite well. And as far as he knows, once she had made up her mind, no force on earth could deter her.
"Of course! Just make sure you cover my back," Scarlett responded, pointing towards the sunroof. "You can appear from this sunroof if I give you the signal to eliminate them. Only then, Logan...Not sooner or later."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"Logan, is this car bulletproof?"
"Yes. All cars owned by Master Xander must be bulletproof," Logan said.
"That's perfect!" A satisfied smile appeared on her lips while her eyes looked back at the street behind their car. Soon enough, two cars approached them, coming into view. She opened the car door, exited the car, and pretended their vehicle had broken down.
Scarlett felt so relaxed, luring her target like this because this wasn't her first time making such a move. Her observation skills were extremely sharp, allowing her to quickly know anyone who was following her with ill intent.
'These foolish Withers Assassins! How dare they send a mere low-level assassin to tail me!' Scarlett could only curse them in her heart, irritated by their stupidity.
...
Scarlett could see the reflection of three tall and well-built men approaching her car through the back windshield. Meanwhile, the other three men remained near their own vehicle, their sharp eyes fixed upon her. She noticed two drivers were still behind the wheel, keeping their engines running.
"Excuse me, miss!" one of the approaching men called out, his deep voice resonating like a baritone.
Maintaining her innocent expression, Scarlett turned to face the three men who had approached her. "Y-Yes?" she responded, feigning vulnerability.
"Is your car broken down?" the man asked, while his two companions appeared tense, their eyes locked onto her. Despite the situation, she remained calm.
"Yes, the engine suddenly died, and I couldn't restart it," she replied, pretending to wipe off sweat from her forehead.
"Too bad," the man said in his apologetic tone. "Young miss, if you need a ride, you can join us in our car. It's just the two of you, right?" The man wore a smile, but it only served to disgust Scarlett.
"Uncle, ugh... no, thank you. We don't want to trouble you," Scarlett quickly responded, attempting to decline the man's offer.
"Hahaha, young miss, don't hesitate. We happen to be heading in the same direction," the man replied, rubbing the back of his neck and signaling his colleagues to relax. This young girl is so easy to fool.
"Uncle?" Scarlett looked at the man, forcing a broad smile while inwardly suppressing her laughter at how easily he fell for her act. Gosh!
"Yes, yes... It's okay. Alright, let's get going now, shall we?" The man chuckled. "Go grab your bag and tell your friend to follow us. As for your car, don't worry. You can have someone come and pick it up, right?"
Scarlett nodded happily, pretending to appreciate the man's offer. "Waah... Uncle, you're so kind," she said, then turned around. But before she took a step, she discreetly retrieved two guns from her coat and whispered, "Logan, shoot the driver now!"
When she noticed the car sunroof open, she swiftly turned back. Then she smiled at the three men who were engaged in casual conversation behind her. It amused her how these foolish assassins had let their guard down, oblivious to the fact that she now had her gun aimed at them.
In a matter of seconds, the sound of gunfire echoed, startling the men. They frantically scanned their surroundings, only to be shocked by the lifeless body of their driver.
"FUCK!!!" One of the men near her shouted in shock as they desperately tried to retrieve their guns. The other three men near the car quickly sought cover behind the vehicle.
"Shoot the three running guys, Logan!" Scarlett commanded calmly as she skillfully shot the hands of the three men closer to her. "Ah, don't kill them. Just immobilize them. I still need them!" she said, seeing one of the men fall motionless.
"AARRGGHH!!!" The man she had shot in the shoulder cried out in pain, his bloodshot eyes filled with a burning rage directed at Scarlett. He was fuming that this young girl had dared to shoot him. Despite the searing pain in his shoulder, he was determined to eliminate her, even without his gun that had been thrown several meters away.
Gritting his teeth and enduring the nameless pain, he marched towards her. "You bitch!! I will definitely kill you!!" he screamed, launching a powerful punch with his free hand.
Scarlett smiled as she effortlessly dodged the man's wild attack, her eyes remaining focused on the two men who had drawn their weapons and were now pointing them at her.
"Do you need my help, ma'am?" Logan's voice rang in her ear.
"NO!" she shouted. Then, swiftly threw herself to the ground, narrowly avoiding their gunfire. She skillfully shot both men simultaneously in their hands and knees as she rolled.
The scene unfolded so quickly that the man, who was about to strike her, couldn't react in time. He stood there, stunned, his eyes fixed on the girl's lightning-fast movements and his comrade, who now fell to the ground.
His anger slowly dissipated. It was replaced by a growing fear as he locked eyes with the girl again. Their gazes intertwined, and he was struck by a bone-chilling shock, captivated by the fiery depths of her eyes.
He had been cautious since learning that she was the one who had taken down the Bronze Team a few weeks ago. But seeing her in person, she appeared harmless, and he had let his guard down.
Now, he deeply regretted being deceived by this girl. It dawned on him too late that she had been playing the fool, luring him and his comrade into her trap.
Scarlett aimed both guns at the man's head, a wicked smile gracing her face as she stood up. Her eyes never wavered from the man. She assumed this man was the leader of these foolish Withers assassins.
"You move, and I'll blow your little brains out!" she warned him. Her gaze was enough to make the man frozen in his place.
"Logan, handle the others. I'll take care of their leader," she commanded, rising to her feet. With ease, she approached the motionless man standing before her.
"You're the leader?" Scarlett asks. Her voice was filled with authority. She delivered a swift kick to his chest as she saw him nod, sending him hurtling several meters through the air. His massive form crashed to the hard ground, causing a loud cracking of bone to be heard, and fresh blood spilled from his mouth.
A pained groan escaped his lips as he stared at Scarlett, a mix of fear and disbelief flashing across his face. He felt as though he were face to face with a grim reaper, a force that had come to claim his life. For the first time in years, genuine fear swallowed him.
"W-What do you want?" he stammered, his voice trembling in fear. "Please, spare my life!" he pleaded, attempting to crawl away from Scarlett's advancing figure. However, his body felt heavy and unresponsive, as if transformed into a lifeless log.
"Damn! Are you stupid or something?" Scarlett chuckled, halting a few steps away from him. "I'm the one who should be asking questions here, not you! Old man, why are you following me? Who sent you?"
The man remained silent, refusing to divulge any information. How could he betray his guild?
"Tsk, tsk... there's no need to hide anything from me. I already know exactly who sent you. I just wanted to test whether I should spare your pathetic life or let you enter hell sooner," she stated, raising her gun, ready to pull the trigger.
"WAIT! I'll talk..." The man hastily interrupted, desperately trying to prevent the girl from ending his life.
"No, I don't need your information because I already know. Jude Withers sent you!" A sinister smile flickered across Scarlett's eyes.
"Wait, wait, Miss... I have valuable information that you may find useful," the man attempted to entice Scarlett with the promise of his knowledge.
